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RAOC Gazette - page 74

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1983
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Early date 1983
Late date 1983
Transcription Clearly the efficiency of the Branch is at risk. Suggestions
to relieve tension have been numerous and include cheerful
and imaginative projects such as; organising dog races and
stock car races round Morfe House on Wednesdays and after-
noon dancing classes.
REGIONAL DEPOT HEREFORD.
A very successful Ladies
Guest Night was held on Friday the 13th May to dine out the
OC Major, Bruce Boulton and his wife Maureen. The Com-
mander Supply, Lieutenant Colonel Portman bade farewell and
presented a miniature Cannon to them on behalf of the officers
and staff of the Depot. At the time of writing these notes
Major Boulton is still without a posting order—rumour has it
that this next appointment could very well be S02 Fire
Fighting!
The new OC Major Stuart Hodge has quickly settled into
the ' hot seat' and can now talk with some authority on such
diverse subjects as ECW clothing and chemicals.
North East District and 2 Infantry Division
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THE RAOC Association recently held a
meeting at the Buckles Inn near York.
Lieutenant Colonel Rees was very pleased
at the turn out and for having the
opportunity of meeting so many mem-
bers (old and new), including two ATS
girls (what is an ATS girl?). I was assured
that a very pleasant evening was had by
all. Captain Redfem said that it was most
encouraging and further events are in the
pipeline. Particularly pleasing was the presence of the young
soldiers from Kirton Lindsey.
The highlight of the month was the visit of Her Majesty
The Queen to York. As you can imagine the time leading
up to the visit was very hectic with all the officers of the
branch working like beavers to co-ordinate the tentage, furniture
and other equipment for the visit. We even had Major Millar
on the grass measuring the Marquee area out with a ball of
string in typical York weather, pouring with rain. I think we
had better give our thanks to our civilian staff who also worked
very hard during this period.
Our intrepid, newly arrived sailor, Major Andrew Byles
has survived yet another trauma—this time as Bosun/Crewman
of the yacht ' British Soldier' on her final return leg of Exercise
Silver Hawk from Boston (USA) to Gosport. One thousand
miles out of Boston she lost her rudder and, despite attempts to
fish it off the bottom, had to be towed four hundred miles to St
John's Newfoundland. He now keeps talking of strange things
such as ' The heads' and ' Splicing mainbraces' and complains
that his desk is too stable.
HEADQUARTERS
15 INFANTRY
BRIGADE
WE say farewell and all the best to Staff Sergeant Terry
Parfitt and Lance Corporal Bob Smith.
We welcome into the fold W02 Les Arnold and Lance
Corporal Andy Parkes. Les arrives from a more sedate tour at •
MOD, and is now enjoying the already obvious challenge as
chief office organiser to this busy and still relatively newly
formed Brigade Headquarters. Andy misses the rather bagnio
type social life of Belize, however he is becoming familiar now
to the more down to earth social environment of Thirsk and
the surrounding villages.
Corporal Kevin Duckham is nicely settled back into the
Brigade now his courses run has expired and Private Eddie
Burrow has been the most permanent fixture in the building
recently as he keeps the G l / 4 wing running smoothly.
STORES
SECTION
ARMY SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL
TRANSPORT
CONGRATULATIONS go to our storekeepers Mr Mick
Gregory and Mr Dick Stephenson for passing their driving test
at the first attempt.
We say a sad farewell to OC REME Workshop, Major
Golding, who has left us to go out into the big outside world
after forty years service, we wish him well in his future
career.
We would like to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Tinsley who
has taken over as OC Workshop and wish him well in his new
appointment.
STORES SECTION 31 COMMAND
WORKSHOP
WE would like to say farewell to Jack Lemineur, our Senior
Storekeeper for many years, on his retirement. Jack look after
yourself and enjoy yourself.
Welcome to Janet Pittuck and Ken Poskitt. May their
stay be a long and happy one.
Congratulations to Peter Price on his promotion to senior
storekeeper.
STORES SECTION 41 COMMAND
WORKSHOP
WE have said farewell to Captain David Ashworth who has
gone to join the mysterious MSU; no doubt he will be back to
criticise the layout of the new modular binning—but we will
brief the new OC Captain Tony Parry as to where the finger
of blame should be pointed.
Gerry Herbert our Senior Storekeeper/Shot Steward/
Cartoonist is lying low at the moment after two apt cartoons
depicting the baptism under fire of Lieutenant Colonel Bill
Mabbett the Workshop Commander.
STORES SECTION 38 ENGINEER REGIMENT
WORKSHOP
THERE have been a number of events and activities since the
Section was last mentioned in these pages.
On the sporting side we have had considerable success in
both soccer and rugby. WOl Noel Barker and Sergeant John
Scott achieved success in their respective roles as Regimental
Rugby and Workshop Soccer Player/Managers. WOl Barker
took the Regimental Rugby Team to the final of the Sapper Cup
whilst Sergeant Scott with the help of Corporal Terry Kennedy
and Privates McGreavey and Turner took the Workshop soccer
team to the final of the Craftsmans Cup. Both teams did very
well to reach the finals when one considers that eighty per
cent of the Regiment was away in the Falklands and Kenya.
Our congratulations go to Corporal Bob Forrest on passing
two subjects at EPC level. He is now beavering away on his
RPC 1 Course at Blackwown—we wish him well.
We have sadly said farewell to WOl (SSM) Noel Barker
and Private Andy Smith. Noel leaves us on commissioning to
CAD Kineton and Andy leaves us for Colchester. We wish them
both well for the future. We welcome back Lance Corporal
Mick Saxby who has been away in Kenya for five months sup-
porting 11 Field Squadron RE. Finally, we welcome our new
WOIC, WOl (SSM) Tony Graves to the Stores Section from
Headquarters RAOC in Cyprus. We all hope that you enjoy your
stay with us.
1 Aircraft Support Unit
SINCE our last contribution there has
been a big change round in our three
main detachments. Sergeant Flower has
been replaced by Sergeant Frame in
Belize—he is now overtaking his father
at Donnington in the promotion stakes!
Sergeant Flower having completed over
two years in Belize is congratulated on his
recent marriage. They go to 655 Squadron
AAC Ballykelly with our best wishes.
At 6 MSD BFFI, Corporal Neville
Stewart and Private Tony Quinn have
been replaced by Corporal Bill Turner and Private Nick Preston
both volunteers. The first Lynx is now flying and hopefully the
account is to be transferred to the RAF 4/72 VDU system
next month, with the assistance of W02 Gordon from Head-
quarters DAAC. A similar move is afoot at 3 MSD at RAF
Aldergrove under the direction of WOl McPhee and Staff
Sergeant Merrils. Corporal McKinnon is now back in Belfast
again with his wife Caroline who together with Mrs Lennon can
now keep an eye on their Kith and Kin.
On the sports front, outstations performances at two recent
AAC Centre and Workshop Athletics Meetings were Corporals
Cureton and Shore in the long distance events, Private Preston
in the sprints and Sergeant Anderson and Private Liggett in
the triple jump and high jump. An inspiration for the younger
soldiers was provided by the evergreen WOl Sam Bartram and
W02 Birchall who churned up the track in the relays, W02
Birchall even won the veterans one hundred metres in a faster
time than the open event!
In the same week together with Mrs Birchall he battled his
way through in typical Geordie fashion to win the nine pin
bowling competition which we hold each year at the Mill Arms
at Dunbridge near Romsey. This year the event was organised
by Lance Corporal John Coulter who had the benefit of
Sergeant Bing Crosby assisting as MC for the last time.
61 —
Book number R0406